Non-volatile memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

This technology relates to nonvolatile memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same. A nonvolatile memory device can include a memory cell array configured to include a plurality of strings, a page buffer unit connected to the plurality of strings, respectively, and configured to sense data, and a switching unit disposed between the memory cell array and the page buffer unit and configured to comprise a variable resistor.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) toKorean application number 10-2012-0097782, filed on Sep. 4, 2012, in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to nonvolatile memory devices,and more particularly, to nonvolatile memory devices and methods ofmanufacturing the same.

2. Related Art

Researches are being carried out on the next-generation nonvolatilememory devices which do not require a refresh function in order tocomply with a need for the lower power of the memory device. A NANDflash memory device, that is, one of the next-generation memory devices,basically includes a memory cell array and a page buffer.

The memory cell array includes a plurality of cells for storing data, aplurality of bit lines, and a plurality of word lines. The plurality ofbit lines is connected to respective page buffer circuits.

The page buffer includes the plurality of page buffer circuits. Each ofthe page buffer circuits includes a bit line selection unit forselecting any one of an even bit line and an odd bit line and a latchunit for latching I/O data and enabling program or reading.

The bit line selection unit of the page buffer circuit commonly includesfour NMOS transistors. Each of the NMOS transistors includes a highvoltage transistor which can withstand a high voltage. This is because ahigh voltage of 20 V or higher is used when the erase operation of acommon nonvolatile memory device is performed.

The high voltage transistor has a much larger size than a low voltagetransistor because it is fabricated so that it can withstand a highvoltage. For this reason, the high voltage transistor functions as alimiting factor in reducing the size of a common nonvolatile memorydevice.

SUMMARY

Nonvolatile memory devices capable of reducing the size of the devicesand methods of manufacturing the same are described herein.

In an embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device may include a memory cellarray configured to includes a plurality of strings, a page buffer unitconnected to the plurality of strings, respectively, and configured tosense data, and a switching unit disposed between the memory cell arrayand the page buffer unit and configured to include a variable resistor.

In an embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device may include a memory cellarray configured to includes a plurality of strings, a page buffer unitconnected to the plurality of strings, respectively, and configured tosense data, a switching unit configured to include a variable resistorfor performing a switching operation depending on whether the eraseoperation of the memory cell array is performed or not, and a pagebuffer protection unit configured to protect the page buffer unit.

In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a nonvolatile memory devicemay include forming an interlayer insulating layer, including a contacthole through which a junction on one side of a memory cell array isopened, over a semiconductor substrate in which a memory cell array isformed, forming a switching unit at a bottom of the contact hole,forming a contact unit over the switching unit so that the contact holeis buried, and forming a bit line over the contact unit.

In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a nonvolatile memory devicemay include forming a first interlayer insulating layer, including afirst hole through which a junction on one side of a memory cell arrayis opened, over a semiconductor substrate in which a memory cell arrayis formed, forming a first contact unit in the first hole, forming aswitching unit over the first interlayer insulating layer so that theswitching unit is connected to the first contact unit, forming a secondinterlayer insulating layer over the switching unit and the firstinterlayer insulating layer, forming a second hole through which theswitching unit is exposed over the second interlayer insulating layer,forming a second contact unit in the second hole, and forming a bit lineover the second contact unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, aspects, and embodiments are described in conjunction with theattached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a nonvolatile memory device in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a construction of the switching unitand the page buffer of the nonvolatile memory device in accordance withan embodiment;

FIG. 3 a diagram showing voltage characteristics when the switching unitof the nonvolatile memory device in accordance with an embodimentincludes a unipolar device;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing voltage characteristics when the switchingunit of the nonvolatile memory device in accordance with an embodimentincludes a bipolar device;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of nonvolatile memory devices inaccordance with the embodiments;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts illustrating methods of manufacturing thenonvolatile memory device in accordance with various embodiments; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a nonvolatile memory device in accordancewith an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a nonvolatile memory device and a method of manufacturingthe same according to the various embodiments will be described belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings through the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a nonvolatile memory device in accordancewith an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing aconstruction of the switching unit and the page buffer of thenonvolatile memory device in accordance with an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the nonvolatile memory device in accordancewith an embodiment can include a memory cell array 110, a switching unit120, and a page buffer unit 130.

The memory cell array 110 may include a plurality of strings. Each ofthe strings may include select transistors formed at both ends of memorycells that are coupled in series. Here, a plurality of the strings canbe connected to a word line. Each of the strings may be electricallyconnected to a page buffer for sensing data through a pair of even andodd bit lines BLe and BLo.

The switching unit 120 may be disposed between the memory cell array 110and the page buffer unit 130. The switching unit 120 may be turned on oroff in response to the cell string operation of the nonvolatile memorydevice. In other words, if an operation of the memory cell array 110 isa program operation or a read operation, an electric current flowsthrough the switching unit 120 in a forward direction because theswitching unit 120 is turned on. If an operation of the memory cellarray 110 is an erase operation, an electric current does not flowthrough the switching unit 120 because the switching unit 120 is turnedoff. That is, when an erase operation is performed, an erase bias of ahigh voltage can be prevented from being transmitted to a bit line BLeor BLo. The switching unit 120 can include two electrodes, that is, anupper electrode and a lower electrode, and a variable resistance unitplaced between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. If theswitching unit 120 includes the lower electrode, the variable resistanceunit, and the upper electrode as described above, the switching unit 120can perform a rectifier operation. The variable resistance unit can beformed of any one of a unipolar device or a bipolar device. This isdescribed in detail later.

The page buffer unit 130 can include a plurality of page buffer circuitsconnected to the plurality of bit lines of the memory cell array 110.Each of the page buffer circuits may include a bit line selection unit131 and a latch unit 132.

The bit line selection unit 131 may include four NMOS transistors N1˜N4.Each of the four NMOS transistors may include a low voltage transistorwhich can withstand a low voltage. Accordingly, the size of thenonvolatile memory device in accordance with the embodiments can bereduced as compared with the prior art. In general, this is because theswitching unit 120 performs control so that an electric current does notflow through the bit line selection unit 131 in an erase operation, thatis, an operation that requires a high voltage, and an electric currentflows through the bit line selection unit 131 in a program operation orread operation, that is, an operation requiring a low voltage.

The latch unit 132 latches data outputted from a bit line BLe or BLothat is selected by the bit line selection unit 131.

The switching unit 120 of the nonvolatile memory device constructed asdescribed above in accordance with an embodiment is described in detailbelow. Additionally, the switching unit may include variable resistanceunits R1 and R2.

FIG. 3 a diagram showing voltage characteristics when the switching unit120 of the nonvolatile memory device in accordance with an embodimentincludes a unipolar device, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing voltagecharacteristics when the switching unit 120 of the nonvolatile memorydevice in accordance with an embodiment includes a bipolar device. Thex-axis of FIGS. 3 and 4 showing voltage and the y-axis of FIGS. 3 and 4showing current.

If the variable resistance unit of the switching unit 120 in accordancewith an embodiment is formed of a unipolar device, the variableresistance unit shows a low voltage characteristic at a reset voltageV_(reset) or lower, shows a high voltage characteristic when the resetvoltage V_(reset) or higher is applied, and shows a low voltagecharacteristic again when a set voltage V_(set) or higher is applied, asshown in FIG. 3.

If the switching unit 120 of the nonvolatile memory device includes aunipolar device according to the above characteristics, a program orread operation is performed without performing any operation on the bitline selection unit 131 because the program or read operation isperformed in a low voltage state. That is, the switching operation ofthe switching unit 120 is turned on, so voltage supplied by the memorycell array 110 is supplied to the bit line selection unit 131 withoutchange. This is because an operating voltage state is a low voltagestate.

Additionally, when an erase operation is performed, the reset voltageV_(reset) or higher is supplied from the memory cell array 110 to theswitching unit 120 through the bit line BLe or BLo. Thus, the state ofthe switching unit 120 is changed into a high voltage state so that theerase operation is performed. When the switching unit 120 becomes a highvoltage state as described above, the switching unit 120 does nottransfer a high erase voltage, supplied to a well, to peripheralcircuits including the bit line selection unit 131. That is, theswitching operation of the switching unit 120 is turned off. After thebit line selection unit 131 is changed into the high voltage state asdescribed above so that the erase operation is performed, the setvoltage V_(set) or higher is supplied to the bit line again so that theswitching unit 120 becomes a low voltage state again. This is because inthe nonvolatile memory device, operations other than an erase operationare performed in a low voltage state.

The unipolar device can be embodied by properly controlling material anda composition. Here, the unipolar device made of any one of NiO, MnOx,ZrO₂, (Ba, Sr)TiO₃, MgZnO, and HfO₂ can be used as the variableresistance unit.

Additionally, if the switching unit 120 of the nonvolatile memory devicein accordance with an embodiment includes a bipolar device, the state ofthe variable resistance unit is changed into a high voltage state when apositive voltage equal to or higher than a reset voltage V_(reset) issupplied to the upper electrode in a low voltage state and is thenchanged into a low voltage state again when a negative voltage equal toor higher than a set voltage V_(set) is supplied to the upper electrode,as shown in FIG. 4.

If the switching unit 120 of the nonvolatile memory device includes abipolar device, a program or read operation may be performed by formingthe reset voltage V_(reset) into an operating voltage or higher. This isbecause at the operating voltage or higher, the bit line selection unit131 can be changed into a low voltage state. In contrast, like in theunipolar device, when an erase operation is performed, the reset voltageV_(reset) or higher is supplied to the switching unit 120 the bit lineBLe or BLo so that the state of the switching unit 120 is changed into ahigh voltage state. In the erase operation, the set voltage V_(reset)must be higher than an erase voltage or higher. This is because thepositive voltage is supplied to the lower electrode of the switchingunit 120. In other words, this is because the state of the bit lineselection unit 131 cannot be changed into a high voltage state.Furthermore, after the erase operation is performed, it will bepreferred that the state of the bipolar device be changed into a lowvoltage state again by instantly supplying a positive voltage equal toor higher than an erase voltage to the well of a memory cell. Here, thebipolar device made of any one of NiTiO, CuC, SrTiO₃, CuxO, AlOx,TiO₂/TiN, and TiOx can be used as the variable resistance unit.

The switching unit 120 in accordance with an embodiment may be formedbetween two drain contacts or may be formed within a drain contact.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of nonvolatile memory devices inaccordance with the embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which the switching unit 120 is formed on thesame plane as a memory cell array 520. That is, the memory cell array520 may be formed over a semiconductor substrate 510. A lower electrode540, a variable resistance unit 550 formed over the lower electrode 540,an upper electrode 560 formed over the variable resistance unit 550, anda drain contact 570 formed over the upper electrode 560 may be formed inthe peripheral region of the memory cell array 520. A bit line 580 maybe formed over the drain contact 570 formed as described above. Here,the variable resistance unit 550 can be formed of a unipolar or bipolardevice using the material described above. Furthermore, referencenumeral 530 denotes an interlayer insulating layer. Also, FIGS. 5 and 6illustrate drain select lines DSL, word lines WL, and source selectlines SSL.

Additionally, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a nonvolatile memorydevice in accordance with an embodiment. In the present embodiment, theswitching unit 120 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) may be placed in a plane over amemory cell array 620. That is, the memory cell array 620 may be formedover a semiconductor substrate 610. A first drain contact 640, a lowerelectrode 660 formed over the first drain contact 640, a variableresistance unit 670 formed over the lower electrode 660, an upperelectrode 680 formed over the variable resistance unit 670, and a seconddrain contact 690 formed over the upper electrode 680 are formed in theperipheral region of the memory cell array 620. A bit line 700 may beformed over the second drain contact 690. Here, the variable resistanceunit 670 can be formed of a unipolar or bipolar device as describedabove. Furthermore, reference numerals 630 and 650 denote a firstinterlayer insulating layer and a second interlayer insulating layer,respectively.

Methods of manufacturing the nonvolatile memory device constructed asdescribed above in accordance with various embodiments are describedwith reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts illustrating methods of manufacturing thenonvolatile memory device in accordance with an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, in a method of manufacturing the nonvolatile memorydevice in accordance with an embodiment, the memory cell array 520 maybe formed over the semiconductor substrate 510, and the interlayerinsulating layer 530 may be formed over the semiconductor substrate 510in which the memory cell array 520 is formed at step S710.

Next, a hole configured to open a junction on one side of the memorycell array 520 (see FIG. 5) and to have a kind of drain contact formedtherein is formed in the interlayer insulating layer 530 at step S720.The lower electrode 540 may be formed at the bottom of the hole at stepS730.

The variable resistance unit 550 may be formed over the lower electrode540 at step S740. As described above, the variable resistance unit 550can be formed of a unipolar device or a bipolar device. The unipolardevice can be made of any one of NiO, MnOx, ZrO₂, (Ba, Sr)TiO₃, MgZnO,and HfO₂, and the bipolar device can be made of any one of NiTiO, CuC,SrTiO₃, CuxO, AlOx, TiO₂/TiN, and TiOx.

After forming the upper electrode 560 over the variable resistance unit550 at step S750, the drain contact 570 is formed over the upperelectrode 560 at step S760.

The bit line 580 is formed over the drain contact 570 at step S770.

Additionally, referring to FIG. 8, in a method of manufacturing thenonvolatile memory device in accordance with an embodiment, the memorycell array 620 may be formed over the semiconductor substrate 610, andthe first interlayer insulating layer 630 may be formed over thesemiconductor substrate 610 in which the memory cell array 620 is formedat step S810.

A first hole for forming the first drain contact 640 may be formed inthe first interlayer insulating layer 630 at step S820. The first draincontact 640 may be formed in the first hole at step S830.

The switching unit 120 may be formed over the first drain contact 640 sothat the first drain contact 640 may be connected to an upper part ofthe first interlayer insulating layer 630. More particularly, the lowerelectrode 660 may be formed over the first drain contact 640 at stepS840, the variable resistance unit 670 may be formed over the lowerelectrode 660 at step S850, and the upper electrode 680 may be formedover the variable resistance unit 670 at step S860. As described above,the variable resistance unit 670 can be formed of a unipolar device or abipolar device. The unipolar device can be made of any one of NiO, MnOx,ZrO₂, (Ba, Sr)TiO₃, MgZnO, and HfO₂, and the bipolar device can be madeof any one of NiTiO, CuC, SrTiO₃, CuxO, AlOx, TiO₂/TiN, and TiOx.

The second interlayer insulating layer 650 may be formed over theswitching unit 120 and the first interlayer insulating layer 630 formedas described above at step S870. A second hole for opening the switchingunit 120, that is, the upper electrode 680, may be formed in the secondinterlayer insulating layer 650 in order to form the second draincontact 690 at step S880. Here, the second hole formed in the secondinterlayer insulating layer 650 may be formed at a positioncorresponding to the second drain contact 640.

The second drain contact 690 may be formed in the second hole and formedas described above at step S890. Here, the first drain contact 640 andthe second drain contact 690 can be made of low-resistance material,such as tungsten (W).

Next, the bit line 700 may be formed over the second drain contact 690at step S900.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a nonvolatile memory device in accordancewith an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the nonvolatile memory device in accordance with anembodiment can include a memory cell array 910, a switching unit 920, apage buffer protection unit 930, and a page buffer unit 940. The pagebuffer unit 940 can include a bit line selection unit 941 and a latchunit 942.

The memory cell array 910, the switching unit 920, and the page bufferunit 940 that form the nonvolatile memory device in accordance with anembodiment are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to8, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The page buffer protection unit 930 can be disposed between theswitching unit 920 and the page buffer unit 940 when the variableresistance unit of the switching unit 920 is formed of a unipolardevice. This is because the page buffer unit 940 formed of a low voltagetransistor can be damaged when the state of the variable resistance unitof the switching unit 920 is changed into a low voltage state by a setvoltage although it is a short time. The page buffer protection unit 930can be formed of a resistor or a capacitor.

While various embodiments have been described above, it will beunderstood to those skilled in the art that the embodiments describedare by way of example only. Accordingly, the device and method describedherein should not be limited based on the described embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A nonvolatile memory device, comprising: a memorycell array configured to comprises a plurality of strings; a page bufferunit connected to the plurality of strings, respectively, and configuredto sense data; a switching unit configured to comprise a variableresistor for performing a switching operation depending on whether anerase operation of the memory cell array is performed or not; and a pagebuffer protection unit configured to protect the page buffer unit. 2.The nonvolatile memory device according to claim 1, wherein theswitching unit comprises: a lower electrode; a variable resistance unitformed over the lower electrode; and an upper electrode formed over thevariable resistance unit.
 3. The nonvolatile memory device according toclaim 2, wherein the variable resistance unit is formed of a unipolardevice.
 4. The nonvolatile memory device according to claim 3, whereinthe unipolar device has a low voltage characteristic in a reset voltageor lower, has a high voltage characteristic when the reset voltage orhigher is applied, and has a low voltage characteristic again when a setvoltage or higher.
 5. The nonvolatile memory device according to claim4, wherein the unipolar device is made of any one of NiO, MnOx, ZrO₂,(Ba, Sr)TiO₃, MgZnO, and HfO₂.
 6. The nonvolatile memory deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the page buffer unit is formed of a lowvoltage transistor.
 7. The nonvolatile memory device according to claim1, wherein the page buffer protection unit is formed of a resistor or acapacitor.
 8. The nonvolatile memory device according to claim 2,wherein the lower electrode, variable resistance unit, and the upperelectrode are formed in a peripheral region of the memory cell array. 9.The nonvolatile memory device according to claim 1, wherein the pagebuffer unit comprises a bit line selection unit and a latch unit. 10.The nonvolatile memory device according to claim 9, wherein the bit lineselection unit comprises NMOS transistors.
 11. The nonvolatile memorydevice according to claim 1, wherein the switching operation is turnedoff when the erase operation is performed.
 12. The nonvolatile memorydevice according to claim 1, wherein the switching operation is turnedon when the erase operation is not performed.
 13. The nonvolatile memorydevice according to claim 1, wherein the switching operation is turnedon when a program operation or a read operation is performed.